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>> Democracy is freedom to do what is right/lawful/constitutional. Not freedom to do what is illegal.

How about preaching the same to naxals ? carrying / using AK 47s against police / civilians is also illegal. Beheading of public servants is also illegal. Rape & killing of those who oppose the naxals is also illegal.

"many of whom are not educated enough to know/read the ideologies, history of Mao etc" KUMAR, That where the educated, manipulative ideologues comes in. Democracy may not be the perfect system but for a country like India with so much diversity, parliamentary system of democracy is the best form of Govt. A cursory glance around the region around India would highlight the plight of most other forms of Govt.

Arundhathi Roy siding with "violent Maoist" who suppress voice of dissent with a BULLET is unpardonable. Similar violent anti-national activities in the NE States like Mizoram, Nagaland etc subsided only when most of the people of these states were converted to Christianity. A similar ploy of the Church in the Central Indian Tribal area also can NOT be ruled out.

indias problems are due to its all too diverse population. there are upper caste hindus, obc,s, dalits and tribals.

there are muslims of various sects. we have christians and sikhs.

we have few things we share . our values, liveing styles, mindsets are far apart.

it seems to me that the discontented communities of dalits, tribals , and muslims have made a common cause,to attack the hindus of middle class and upper classes.

they will not get anything out of this. the upper classes will be antagonised and isolate themselves .

people like the resident maulvi, rajesh the dalit from australia, and kumar the choir boy from bangalore can keep spouting hate. people like me dont give a damn. piss off .

let me say that i have the right to dislike , criticise anyone however much i like. i dont need anyones permission.

i dislike islam, and i will not deny this. why should i. i dont respect mohammed,and i have reasons for not doing so. no one should accuse me of bias against muslims. i admit it. many westerners do.lets be honest about it.

we have the right to choose friends and enemies,

most important we have a duty to be honest.

some people will hate me. they are welcome to do so. howeve no one can acuse me of being a hypocrite.

india will continue haveing serious problemsfor ever. gandhi was ve wrong in beleveing that all th various commmunities would live peacefully togather. neither ambedkar or jinnah agreed with him.

ambedkar wanted special rights for dalits. jinnah wanted a separate country. today mayawati is trying to build a state for dalits. muslims are trying for a second pakistan

hindu upper classes have a fight on their hands. the real super rich indians are moveing abroad. smart guys.

there is a great posibility that the cattleclass will take over india.

>> >> Democracy is freedom to do what is right/lawful /constitutional. Not freedom to do what is illegal.

>> Couldn't agree with you more. Maoist violence is not constitutional/ lawful/ right or democratic. Arundhathi .. romanticize the Utopian dream called Maoism...

I do not think she is talking about "Utopian dream called Maoism". She is just talking about the issues of livelihood/dispossession/survival etc faced by tribals - many of whom are not educated enough to know/read the ideologies, history of Mao etc, but just facing loss of livelihood/dispossession/issues of survival etc – leave alone having some “utopian dream”.

Effectively the blacks and tribals in USA where allowed to vote only from 1965 while Indian tribals could vote from 1947. Even today, in Washington, there are separate White and Black Churches. Which church Mr Obama goes is anybodies guess.

Democracy is freedom to do what is right/lawful /constitutional. Not freedom to do what is illegal. KUMAR

Couldn't agree with you more. Maoist violence is not constitutional/ lawful/ right or democratic. If Arundhathi, (the one book wounder, who got the BOOKER for writing shit about her mother) romanticize the Utopian dream called Maoism, which has failed in the country of its origin - CHINA, why not give similar freedom to the farmers who are committing suicide????? Grow Opium/Ganja in the farm lands they own and mint millions unmindful of its consequences.

>> By the way the tribals of India also have reservation in Govt jobs from 1947 and voting rights too while the tribals and blacks got voting rights in USA only in 1965.

It needs to be noted though, that the history of the idea of Universal adult franchise traces back to long before 1947. India used the opportunity of independence to introduce (thanks to people like Nehru/Ambedkar etc who happen to be Sangh's hate figures). Even in US, the 15th Amendment of 1870 legally allowed African Americans to vote, but some states used some means like poll tax, literacy tests etc that resulted in disenfranchisement of poor/uneducated African Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed such possibility.

>> Roy is basically a writer and has got every right to report for the information of the people. It is for the people to take it or reject. If this freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution is supressed there is no meaning for democracy.

Absolutely, as long as she does not incite/provoke use of violence by naxals.

This is an extremely well written and thought out article and full credit to Outlook for its publication. In my recollection quite a while ago India Today pursued the same matter dealing with the exploitation of trillions of dollars equivalent mineral wealth locked up in the heartland of India where the Adivasis and related people inhabited by external and internal mining mafia . But that voice was silenced by the power holders in Delhi as can be ascertained from the fact that India Today never ever published any more such news. Hopefully that will not repeat this time with Outlook.

First discriminate against them. Then take their children away to bring them up as "good Christians" depriving these children of parental affection. After "hunting them down to extermination" a facade of "exclusive legal, economic and social rights" to the remaining few is being tom tomed.

By the way the tribals of India also have reservation in Govt jobs from 1947 and voting rights too while the tribals and blacks got voting rights in USA only in 1965. The benefit of development is percolating down extremely slowly as the population of Tribals in India is large as they were not "hunted down like wild animals" and corruption which the present UPA GOVT is not ready to tackle.

Akil - Indian Adivasis were exterminated during the time of invasion of Indian subcontinent by barbarians and later their descendents brought endless misery to these people. The numbers exterminated may be less as the technology was virtually non-existed compared 100-200 years. Before we point fingers on other Nations we should look our own twisted history first and then judge others. It is high time for India to adopt some of the wonderful policies of USA, Canada,Australia and Brazil that have empowered the indigenous and Tribals with special/exclusive legal, economic and social rights. I am sure many of the indigenous leaders of these nations love to help India in addressing the Adivasis/Tribals disadvantages. Is India ready ? I very much doubt it.

Roy is basically a writer and has got every right to report for the information of the people. It is for the people to take it or reject. If this freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution is supressed there is no meaning for democracy.

As much as I loathe the intellectually bankrupt, one-book-wonder Ms.Roy for her greedy need to hog the headlines, as a democracy, we must not stifle noises of dissent - however cranky it might be. Of course, if there is a provision of law which clearly states that a certain variety of propaganda may be harmful to the state, then, that law needs to be obeyed.

Invasion and driving out has been part of Human History. The vanquished getting pushed out or running away to escape persecution has been the reality from the time of the most ancient civilisation. But what USA and Australia did is to exterminate the TRIBALS. Had the same happened in India, the Tribals in such large numbers would not have been living in India and would have been found in few numbers as the TRIBALS of AMERICA and AUSTRALIA.

Akil "Has anything been done to Indian Tribals as barbaric as YOUR adopted countries- USA and AUSTRALIA - has done to tribals in those respective countries???? "

Yes, historically Indian were no less barbaric than USA/Australia or other nation, you need to go back when Indian subcontinent was invaded to drive the Adivasis, Tribals and others. Don't just look 100-200 years of history and compare it to USA/Australia.

What difference would this make to anything ? Assign your favorite fanatic name to me and anyone else. I have no problem with it. Personal attacks are the only tactic left for the rotting carcass of the Sangh brotherhood.

All that has been implied is that the Armed Forces have a notorious "secretive" mentality which prohibits free speech. So why get agitated hiding behind the code name. Disclose your FANATIC name and then blog

When was an ADMIRAL of Navy ever been the guardian of freedom of speech???? This ADMIRAL would have stamped out the freedom of speech of all his subordinates all through his life in Navy and now speaking about freedom of speech is like the old saying "Nau sau choohe khakhar billi Haj ko Chale(After eating 900 rats the cat goes to Haj)

This ADMIRAL all through his 36-40 years service in Navy would have selected volunteers for unpleasant task as follows. "I want three volunteers for toilet cleaning duty in the ship". "YOU, YOU and YOU are the volunteers". "All three STEP OUT and commence work forthwith"

The best way to deal with a humbug is to ignore him/her. Putting a humbug in jail for one day, and providing him/her with 5 star treatments in the jail is surely a foolish exercise and it will only be like dancing to his/her tunes.

We don't have dearths of humbugs. Great humbugs who will shed copious tears for the Kashmiri separatists beheading priests, killing innocents, raping women of particular religion! Great humbugs who won't mention the real victims of Kashmir, the helpless half a million pandits who were cruelly driven out by the Kashmiri separatist beasts! Ignore the humbugs and that is the only thing one should do with them.

Has anything been done to Indian Tribals as barbaric as YOUR adopted countries- USA and AUSTRALIA - has done to tribals in those respective countries????

-- USA exterminated the TRIBAL inhabitants of American continent- THE RED INDIANS. -- AUSTRALIA also finished off the TRIBALS and he Govt of Australia unilaterally decided that the tribals do not know how to bring up their children and so the children were taken away from their tribal parents to be brought up as "GOOD CHRISTIANS"!!!!!!!!

Has anything remotely resembling the above happened in India???? Lack of economic development and the UTOPIAN CONCEPT of MAOISM, which has failed in the country of its origin- CHINA are the only reason for Maoism to take root in Tribal areas of India. Bringing in HINDU caste-ism as reason for spread of "violent leftist ideology" is being made with the ulterior motive of converting the tribals into Christianity and Ms Arundhai Roy is also party to the hidden agenda of church.

Gayatri- I mean centuries old oppressive culture that pre-dates well before British rule that is very much alive and kicking today in Administration,Schools and places of worships. Tribals never lived like animals, it is the insensitivity of people like you think to keep them powerless and destroy them with armed force. Mind you the current rulers are behaving worse than than the colonialists.

Although I too was appalled by such one-sided piece of writing. Although I too was disgusted by the naked dance of "romance-with-the-violence. As in fantasising the brave ambush video watching innocent beauty. Although I too am tired of these few corpse carriers. Of course the communist idea of revolution is dead. It wounded in USSR and died in China. Although I too feel it funny to read "It is a detailed, sensitive and honest account ....." in this petition.

Yet, NO, she MUST NOT be prosecuted for writing this.

Let us walk with Voltaire: "I despise what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Upper castes led by Congress and BJP believe that they are capable of silencing any dissent with iron hand. But look at the result so far. CRPF and other other police forces are slaughtered like cattle. Now they want to pull army and the air force from the border for green hunt. Don't forget that Jihadis are pushed back from the western border only due to massive force deployed in Kashmir. Once the military leave, not only Kashmir but whole of India will be overwhelmed by the Jihadis in no time. Upper caste's dream will then become true. Thrashed by tribals and other lower castes from inside and screwed by the Muslims from outside.

Arundhati Roy is a closet Christian with a fake Bengali name and a huge chip on her shoulder against the upper caste Hindu establishment of India. She is still a one - book wonder and an obnoxious self - promoter who exploits the many ills of the Indian society to get speaking engagements at international events. But so long as bonafide Hindus themselves do not come forward in large numbers to criticize the plight of the Adivasis or the Dalits, and more importantly do something concrete to improve it, BS artists like Arundhati ( / Suzanne ) will continue to have a field day as a gadfly.

So how about admitting the problems of India and the failings of the Hindu upper caste society openly and then putting all your ChE expertise into pilot development schemes in C. India e,g. rainwater harvesting / small-scale irrigation ? If next the tribals are taught to replicate these projects on their own they would soon start farming and leave their forest habitats to the Tatas & the Vedantas that you admire so much !

one day when its judgement day, who are the people in india who people will look up to.

will they be mother theresa, eli bhatt founder of sewa, sridharan ceo of the delhi metro, narayanamurty who founded infosys, politicians and leaders who brought good government. will they be the ngo,s who founded salam balak, the heads of say rama krishna mission hospitals, those who founded leper homes, homes for disabled children. will they be writers and economists who have won nobel prizes.

no one gives a damn for them. on the other a woman like arundhati roy leaves them dazzled, for speaking of the miseries of tribals. she does not do anything for them. she has not collected money for a school, a clinic, or a centre where the tribals can sit down and have meeting.

this is just too much hard work- she spends her time writeing monotonous long articles, and flogging them all over the world. she attends meetings in new york, australia and collects crowds of adoreing infantile block heads.

she has not done any thing worthwhile- she has however earned a renome like that of joan de arc,and ofcource had the satisfaction of being idolised by numerous people.

I join Admiral Tahlani et al in condemning the move to prosecute Roy.She has made an important point that people's interests cant be bartered for GDP targets.I wish Roy writes many more such articles to halt the corporate war against us.

the so called intellectuals are justifying the maoists terror as "struggle against upper caste oppression...etc" conviniently forgetting that the maoists are trained by indias enemies like china and pakistan.

the so called "hindu terrorists" also say that they are taking revenge against 1000 year brutality by the muslims. what is wrong with that?

It is important that "dissenting voices are NOT chocked" in a DEMOCRACY. But the MAOIST are involved in expressing their dissent through the GUN and not through "VOICE". The Maoist are definitely NOT resorting to "democratic methods" in their struggle against injustice- perceived and real and are killing off people who do not agree with them. So anyone who openly support such violent group is not "expressing their voice of dissent" but supporting violent GUN CULTURE similar to JIHADI TERRORISM. Arundaty Roy deserves to be locked up for supporting VIOLENT Maoist.

No. My problem is that Roy usually creates a psychodrama. She is a one person industry and that industry is Roy. But I didn't say she should be banned.

"is it wrong to dream/write about maoists as the saviours/robinhoods."

Rohin Hood as far as I know is fiction. The maoists are not Robin Hood. This is too serious a matter to play fictional games. But this is what the Indian chattering classes do, and this is where energy gets dissipated.

"ur thinking is like ram and ravan where ram is good and ravan bad taking govt as ram and maoists as ravan. "

Thats rather silly. I never suggested the govt was pure or uncorruptible. The government had 60 plus years to work on these issues. But lets not forget the incredible poverty in India. There is a picture in the Ramachandra Guha article, which shows the tribals with what appears to be a wooden plow, like its some exotic tribal scene. But 80-90% of Indian farmers used wooden plows upto the 1960s. We all led tribal lifestyles back then, with an emotional attachment to the land. Maybe not Roy's family. I can infer that she comes from an city background.

A.Roy is a beacon of light in a society riddled with ignorance, injustice,exploitation, discrimination, oppression, bigotry and inequities. Her greatest contribution to India has been exposing the level of Tribal/Adivasis deprivation and exploitation which makes her the target of accusation as a supporter of Naxalites and Maoist. Her writing hursts the very people who have taken advantages of the situation to advance their interests. Why wouldn't they when century old oppressive culture is challenged and brought to light.

As a gesture of goodwill, the govt should declare a unilateral ban on minimg and deforestation in these large forested areas. And not open it up for mineral exploitation until the tribal people are elevated to modern living conditions. This may take 10 years or more, but it is the least a civilised society can do for its fellow citizens who are dependent on these forests for their living.

dear saini&narendran your anger against roy sounds more of hatred than logic.should we have only one opinion. is it wrong to dream/write about maoists as the saviours/robinhoods.ur thinking is like ram and ravan where ram is good and ravan bad taking govt as ram and maoists as ravan. @saini can we build toilets/hospital in the disputed 100 metre land and solve the babri issue. when it cannot be done among the rich educated high and middle class expecting the tribals to vacate their holy lands/janmabhoomi of their gods /burial grounds/livelihood just because there r minerals is cruel to say the least.the govt has stopped dams across ganga as the sadhus during kumbh threatened and its justified but poor tribals has to be chucked out/annhilated. kindly go thru the list of maoaists killed till date in op greenhunt and almost all r tribals. why the govt begs with bent knees to muivah for ceasefire in nagaland while wanting to annihilate the tribals in chattisgarh. is it because there is a mixed population. if tribal states were the criteria than chattisgarh/jharkhand have to be further divided into pure tribal states like nagaland and mizoram for them to be politically strong and improve @gayathri reg ur comment on aussie killing all aborgines for minerals.the tribals and the natives in india are the only surviving group (still in majority)in the world inspite of being invaded and the times is gone where theycan be annhilated like redindians/aborigines. if we r a real democracy we would have plenty of dalit home ministers/tribal home sec etc and u will see no op green hunt.its fake democracy where almost all the top political/executive posts are with the upper castes and a few ceremonial dalits till date. why is nitish and soren soft on maoists while communist buddha is hard on them.its their caste. the time is not faroff when the obc/sc/st realise how they r annhilated by the chidambarams/pillays/jaitleys and singhs using them as pawns

Threatening Arundhati Roy with arrest merely underlines the frustration among the bovine upper caste Hindu officialdom of Chattisgarh and the rest of cow-worshipping Hindi Belt of India.

These Hindus are terminally mentally deficient, incompetent and cowardly. Their forefathers could n't resist invasion by a handful of Islamic adventurers and then for the next millenia looked the other way when their women-folk were raped and taken away. These cowardly upper caste Hindus and their Bania followers now thump their chests about non - violence but had to wait for the Brits to occupy India and deliver them from Islamic domination !

Threatening Arundhati Roy with arrest merely underlines the frustration among the bovineupper caste Hindu officialdom of Chattisgarh and the rest of cow - worshipping Hindi Belt of India.

They are terminally mentally deficient, incompetent and cowardly. Their forefathers could n't resist invasion by a handful of Islamic adventurers and then for the next millenia looked the other way when their women-folk were raped and taken away. These cowardly upper caste Hindus and their Bania followers now thump their chests about non - violence but had to wait for the Brits to occupy India and deliver them from Islamic domination !

Arresting Arundhati Roy will not only foolish but contrary to our democratic society. Her account of the Naxalite movement is nothing but half truths and ideology driven explanations. But who else has come out with the Absolute Truth? The fact is that we have a serious problem which is much more than "Law & Order" problem. Let everyone express freely. Going through all these view points, we can better come closer to the Truth.

Bringing charges against Arundhati would be a huge step backwards for India. If she had materially helped the Maoists or passed on some government secrets to them, a case could be made against her. However all that she did was to try to understand what motivates them, and why their allegiance to their cause is so strong.

One need not be an eminent ass to understand the foolishness of going after a nincompoop like A. Roy. People like Roy are what fleas to the dogs. What you need do is to give a bath to the dog and not to the fleas.

I agree but to say that Roy's article is honest is not true. The article was skillfully written, but still propaganda.

Roy is not a "dissenting" voice. Why is it necessary to put her on a pedestal. We have plenty of information about the Maoists and tribals - these are not new problems. We know what the goals of the Maoists are. As for the tribals they are not the only exploited poverty stricken group in India. the list is endless

All I know of Roy is her doing her best to put spanner in the works by creating a psychodrama. She has no solutions, she mocks the wealth generating parts of the economy. She can say what she likes but lets not say she is honest

It would be an attack on expression of freedom if she is arrested for writing an article.

However, if she has some information about the Maoists and which might help in capturing someone and if she refuses to divulge that information, then she should be prosecuted. I dont think that is the case at the moment.

It would be an attack on expression of freedom if she is arrested for writing an article.

However, if she has some information about the Maoists and which might help in capturing someone and if she refuses to divulge that information, then she should be prosecuted. I dont think that is the case at the moment.

I agree but to say that Roy's article is honest is not true. The article was skillfully written, but still propaganda.

Roy is not a "dissenting" voice. Why is it necessary to put her on a pedestal. We have plenty of information about the Maoists and tribals - these are not new problems. We know what the goals of the Maoists are. As for the tribals they are not the only exploited poverty stricken group in India. the list is endless

All I know of Roy is her doing her best to put spanner in the works by creating a psychodrama. She has no solutions, she mocks the wealth generating parts of the economy. She can say what she likes but lets not say she is honest

One need not be an eminent ass to understand the foolishness of going after a nincompoop like A. Roy. People like Roy are what fleas to the dogs. What you need do is to give a bath to the dog and not to the fleas.

Bringing charges against Arundhati would be a huge step backwards for India. If she had materially helped the Maoists or passed on some government secrets to them, a case could be made against her. However all that she did was to try to understand what motivates them, and why their allegiance to their cause is so strong.

Arresting Arundhati Roy will not only foolish but contrary to our democratic society. Her account of the Naxalite movement is nothing but half truths and ideology driven explanations. But who else has come out with the Absolute Truth? The fact is that we have a serious problem which is much more than "Law & Order" problem. Let everyone express freely. Going through all these view points, we can better come closer to the Truth.

Threatening Arundhati Roy with arrest merely underlines the frustration among the bovineupper caste Hindu officialdom of Chattisgarh and the rest of cow - worshipping Hindi Belt of India.

They are terminally mentally deficient, incompetent and cowardly. Their forefathers could n't resist invasion by a handful of Islamic adventurers and then for the next millenia looked the other way when their women-folk were raped and taken away. These cowardly upper caste Hindus and their Bania followers now thump their chests about non - violence but had to wait for the Brits to occupy India and deliver them from Islamic domination !

Threatening Arundhati Roy with arrest merely underlines the frustration among the bovine upper caste Hindu officialdom of Chattisgarh and the rest of cow-worshipping Hindi Belt of India.

These Hindus are terminally mentally deficient, incompetent and cowardly. Their forefathers could n't resist invasion by a handful of Islamic adventurers and then for the next millenia looked the other way when their women-folk were raped and taken away. These cowardly upper caste Hindus and their Bania followers now thump their chests about non - violence but had to wait for the Brits to occupy India and deliver them from Islamic domination !

dear saini&narendran your anger against roy sounds more of hatred than logic.should we have only one opinion. is it wrong to dream/write about maoists as the saviours/robinhoods.ur thinking is like ram and ravan where ram is good and ravan bad taking govt as ram and maoists as ravan. @saini can we build toilets/hospital in the disputed 100 metre land and solve the babri issue. when it cannot be done among the rich educated high and middle class expecting the tribals to vacate their holy lands/janmabhoomi of their gods /burial grounds/livelihood just because there r minerals is cruel to say the least.the govt has stopped dams across ganga as the sadhus during kumbh threatened and its justified but poor tribals has to be chucked out/annhilated. kindly go thru the list of maoaists killed till date in op greenhunt and almost all r tribals. why the govt begs with bent knees to muivah for ceasefire in nagaland while wanting to annihilate the tribals in chattisgarh. is it because there is a mixed population. if tribal states were the criteria than chattisgarh/jharkhand have to be further divided into pure tribal states like nagaland and mizoram for them to be politically strong and improve @gayathri reg ur comment on aussie killing all aborgines for minerals.the tribals and the natives in india are the only surviving group (still in majority)in the world inspite of being invaded and the times is gone where theycan be annhilated like redindians/aborigines. if we r a real democracy we would have plenty of dalit home ministers/tribal home sec etc and u will see no op green hunt.its fake democracy where almost all the top political/executive posts are with the upper castes and a few ceremonial dalits till date. why is nitish and soren soft on maoists while communist buddha is hard on them.its their caste. the time is not faroff when the obc/sc/st realise how they r annhilated by the chidambarams/pillays/jaitleys and singhs using them as pawns

As a gesture of goodwill, the govt should declare a unilateral ban on minimg and deforestation in these large forested areas. And not open it up for mineral exploitation until the tribal people are elevated to modern living conditions. This may take 10 years or more, but it is the least a civilised society can do for its fellow citizens who are dependent on these forests for their living.

A.Roy is a beacon of light in a society riddled with ignorance, injustice,exploitation, discrimination, oppression, bigotry and inequities. Her greatest contribution to India has been exposing the level of Tribal/Adivasis deprivation and exploitation which makes her the target of accusation as a supporter of Naxalites and Maoist. Her writing hursts the very people who have taken advantages of the situation to advance their interests. Why wouldn't they when century old oppressive culture is challenged and brought to light.

No. My problem is that Roy usually creates a psychodrama. She is a one person industry and that industry is Roy. But I didn't say she should be banned.

"is it wrong to dream/write about maoists as the saviours/robinhoods."

Rohin Hood as far as I know is fiction. The maoists are not Robin Hood. This is too serious a matter to play fictional games. But this is what the Indian chattering classes do, and this is where energy gets dissipated.

"ur thinking is like ram and ravan where ram is good and ravan bad taking govt as ram and maoists as ravan. "

Thats rather silly. I never suggested the govt was pure or uncorruptible. The government had 60 plus years to work on these issues. But lets not forget the incredible poverty in India. There is a picture in the Ramachandra Guha article, which shows the tribals with what appears to be a wooden plow, like its some exotic tribal scene. But 80-90% of Indian farmers used wooden plows upto the 1960s. We all led tribal lifestyles back then, with an emotional attachment to the land. Maybe not Roy's family. I can infer that she comes from an city background.

It is important that "dissenting voices are NOT chocked" in a DEMOCRACY. But the MAOIST are involved in expressing their dissent through the GUN and not through "VOICE". The Maoist are definitely NOT resorting to "democratic methods" in their struggle against injustice- perceived and real and are killing off people who do not agree with them. So anyone who openly support such violent group is not "expressing their voice of dissent" but supporting violent GUN CULTURE similar to JIHADI TERRORISM. Arundaty Roy deserves to be locked up for supporting VIOLENT Maoist.

the so called intellectuals are justifying the maoists terror as "struggle against upper caste oppression...etc" conviniently forgetting that the maoists are trained by indias enemies like china and pakistan.

the so called "hindu terrorists" also say that they are taking revenge against 1000 year brutality by the muslims. what is wrong with that?

I join Admiral Tahlani et al in condemning the move to prosecute Roy.She has made an important point that people's interests cant be bartered for GDP targets.I wish Roy writes many more such articles to halt the corporate war against us.

one day when its judgement day, who are the people in india who people will look up to.

will they be mother theresa, eli bhatt founder of sewa, sridharan ceo of the delhi metro, narayanamurty who founded infosys, politicians and leaders who brought good government. will they be the ngo,s who founded salam balak, the heads of say rama krishna mission hospitals, those who founded leper homes, homes for disabled children. will they be writers and economists who have won nobel prizes.

no one gives a damn for them. on the other a woman like arundhati roy leaves them dazzled, for speaking of the miseries of tribals. she does not do anything for them. she has not collected money for a school, a clinic, or a centre where the tribals can sit down and have meeting.

this is just too much hard work- she spends her time writeing monotonous long articles, and flogging them all over the world. she attends meetings in new york, australia and collects crowds of adoreing infantile block heads.

she has not done any thing worthwhile- she has however earned a renome like that of joan de arc,and ofcource had the satisfaction of being idolised by numerous people.

Arundhati Roy is a closet Christian with a fake Bengali name and a huge chip on her shoulder against the upper caste Hindu establishment of India. She is still a one - book wonder and an obnoxious self - promoter who exploits the many ills of the Indian society to get speaking engagements at international events. But so long as bonafide Hindus themselves do not come forward in large numbers to criticize the plight of the Adivasis or the Dalits, and more importantly do something concrete to improve it, BS artists like Arundhati ( / Suzanne ) will continue to have a field day as a gadfly.

So how about admitting the problems of India and the failings of the Hindu upper caste society openly and then putting all your ChE expertise into pilot development schemes in C. India e,g. rainwater harvesting / small-scale irrigation ? If next the tribals are taught to replicate these projects on their own they would soon start farming and leave their forest habitats to the Tatas & the Vedantas that you admire so much !

Upper castes led by Congress and BJP believe that they are capable of silencing any dissent with iron hand. But look at the result so far. CRPF and other other police forces are slaughtered like cattle. Now they want to pull army and the air force from the border for green hunt. Don't forget that Jihadis are pushed back from the western border only due to massive force deployed in Kashmir. Once the military leave, not only Kashmir but whole of India will be overwhelmed by the Jihadis in no time. Upper caste's dream will then become true. Thrashed by tribals and other lower castes from inside and screwed by the Muslims from outside.

Although I too was appalled by such one-sided piece of writing. Although I too was disgusted by the naked dance of "romance-with-the-violence. As in fantasising the brave ambush video watching innocent beauty. Although I too am tired of these few corpse carriers. Of course the communist idea of revolution is dead. It wounded in USSR and died in China. Although I too feel it funny to read "It is a detailed, sensitive and honest account ....." in this petition.

Yet, NO, she MUST NOT be prosecuted for writing this.

Let us walk with Voltaire: "I despise what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Gayatri- I mean centuries old oppressive culture that pre-dates well before British rule that is very much alive and kicking today in Administration,Schools and places of worships. Tribals never lived like animals, it is the insensitivity of people like you think to keep them powerless and destroy them with armed force. Mind you the current rulers are behaving worse than than the colonialists.

Has anything been done to Indian Tribals as barbaric as YOUR adopted countries- USA and AUSTRALIA - has done to tribals in those respective countries????

-- USA exterminated the TRIBAL inhabitants of American continent- THE RED INDIANS. -- AUSTRALIA also finished off the TRIBALS and he Govt of Australia unilaterally decided that the tribals do not know how to bring up their children and so the children were taken away from their tribal parents to be brought up as "GOOD CHRISTIANS"!!!!!!!!

Has anything remotely resembling the above happened in India???? Lack of economic development and the UTOPIAN CONCEPT of MAOISM, which has failed in the country of its origin- CHINA are the only reason for Maoism to take root in Tribal areas of India. Bringing in HINDU caste-ism as reason for spread of "violent leftist ideology" is being made with the ulterior motive of converting the tribals into Christianity and Ms Arundhai Roy is also party to the hidden agenda of church.

The best way to deal with a humbug is to ignore him/her. Putting a humbug in jail for one day, and providing him/her with 5 star treatments in the jail is surely a foolish exercise and it will only be like dancing to his/her tunes.

We don't have dearths of humbugs. Great humbugs who will shed copious tears for the Kashmiri separatists beheading priests, killing innocents, raping women of particular religion! Great humbugs who won't mention the real victims of Kashmir, the helpless half a million pandits who were cruelly driven out by the Kashmiri separatist beasts! Ignore the humbugs and that is the only thing one should do with them.

When was an ADMIRAL of Navy ever been the guardian of freedom of speech???? This ADMIRAL would have stamped out the freedom of speech of all his subordinates all through his life in Navy and now speaking about freedom of speech is like the old saying "Nau sau choohe khakhar billi Haj ko Chale(After eating 900 rats the cat goes to Haj)

This ADMIRAL all through his 36-40 years service in Navy would have selected volunteers for unpleasant task as follows. "I want three volunteers for toilet cleaning duty in the ship". "YOU, YOU and YOU are the volunteers". "All three STEP OUT and commence work forthwith"

All that has been implied is that the Armed Forces have a notorious "secretive" mentality which prohibits free speech. So why get agitated hiding behind the code name. Disclose your FANATIC name and then blog

What difference would this make to anything ? Assign your favorite fanatic name to me and anyone else. I have no problem with it. Personal attacks are the only tactic left for the rotting carcass of the Sangh brotherhood.

Akil "Has anything been done to Indian Tribals as barbaric as YOUR adopted countries- USA and AUSTRALIA - has done to tribals in those respective countries???? "

Yes, historically Indian were no less barbaric than USA/Australia or other nation, you need to go back when Indian subcontinent was invaded to drive the Adivasis, Tribals and others. Don't just look 100-200 years of history and compare it to USA/Australia.

Invasion and driving out has been part of Human History. The vanquished getting pushed out or running away to escape persecution has been the reality from the time of the most ancient civilisation. But what USA and Australia did is to exterminate the TRIBALS. Had the same happened in India, the Tribals in such large numbers would not have been living in India and would have been found in few numbers as the TRIBALS of AMERICA and AUSTRALIA.

As much as I loathe the intellectually bankrupt, one-book-wonder Ms.Roy for her greedy need to hog the headlines, as a democracy, we must not stifle noises of dissent - however cranky it might be. Of course, if there is a provision of law which clearly states that a certain variety of propaganda may be harmful to the state, then, that law needs to be obeyed.

Roy is basically a writer and has got every right to report for the information of the people. It is for the people to take it or reject. If this freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution is supressed there is no meaning for democracy.

Akil - Indian Adivasis were exterminated during the time of invasion of Indian subcontinent by barbarians and later their descendents brought endless misery to these people. The numbers exterminated may be less as the technology was virtually non-existed compared 100-200 years. Before we point fingers on other Nations we should look our own twisted history first and then judge others. It is high time for India to adopt some of the wonderful policies of USA, Canada,Australia and Brazil that have empowered the indigenous and Tribals with special/exclusive legal, economic and social rights. I am sure many of the indigenous leaders of these nations love to help India in addressing the Adivasis/Tribals disadvantages. Is India ready ? I very much doubt it.

First discriminate against them. Then take their children away to bring them up as "good Christians" depriving these children of parental affection. After "hunting them down to extermination" a facade of "exclusive legal, economic and social rights" to the remaining few is being tom tomed.

By the way the tribals of India also have reservation in Govt jobs from 1947 and voting rights too while the tribals and blacks got voting rights in USA only in 1965. The benefit of development is percolating down extremely slowly as the population of Tribals in India is large as they were not "hunted down like wild animals" and corruption which the present UPA GOVT is not ready to tackle.

This is an extremely well written and thought out article and full credit to Outlook for its publication. In my recollection quite a while ago India Today pursued the same matter dealing with the exploitation of trillions of dollars equivalent mineral wealth locked up in the heartland of India where the Adivasis and related people inhabited by external and internal mining mafia . But that voice was silenced by the power holders in Delhi as can be ascertained from the fact that India Today never ever published any more such news. Hopefully that will not repeat this time with Outlook.

>> Roy is basically a writer and has got every right to report for the information of the people. It is for the people to take it or reject. If this freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution is supressed there is no meaning for democracy.

Absolutely, as long as she does not incite/provoke use of violence by naxals.

>> By the way the tribals of India also have reservation in Govt jobs from 1947 and voting rights too while the tribals and blacks got voting rights in USA only in 1965.

It needs to be noted though, that the history of the idea of Universal adult franchise traces back to long before 1947. India used the opportunity of independence to introduce (thanks to people like Nehru/Ambedkar etc who happen to be Sangh's hate figures). Even in US, the 15th Amendment of 1870 legally allowed African Americans to vote, but some states used some means like poll tax, literacy tests etc that resulted in disenfranchisement of poor/uneducated African Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed such possibility.

Democracy is freedom to do what is right/lawful /constitutional. Not freedom to do what is illegal. KUMAR

Couldn't agree with you more. Maoist violence is not constitutional/ lawful/ right or democratic. If Arundhathi, (the one book wounder, who got the BOOKER for writing shit about her mother) romanticize the Utopian dream called Maoism, which has failed in the country of its origin - CHINA, why not give similar freedom to the farmers who are committing suicide????? Grow Opium/Ganja in the farm lands they own and mint millions unmindful of its consequences.

Effectively the blacks and tribals in USA where allowed to vote only from 1965 while Indian tribals could vote from 1947. Even today, in Washington, there are separate White and Black Churches. Which church Mr Obama goes is anybodies guess.

>> >> Democracy is freedom to do what is right/lawful /constitutional. Not freedom to do what is illegal.

>> Couldn't agree with you more. Maoist violence is not constitutional/ lawful/ right or democratic. Arundhathi .. romanticize the Utopian dream called Maoism...

I do not think she is talking about "Utopian dream called Maoism". She is just talking about the issues of livelihood/dispossession/survival etc faced by tribals - many of whom are not educated enough to know/read the ideologies, history of Mao etc, but just facing loss of livelihood/dispossession/issues of survival etc – leave alone having some “utopian dream”.

indias problems are due to its all too diverse population. there are upper caste hindus, obc,s, dalits and tribals.

there are muslims of various sects. we have christians and sikhs.

we have few things we share . our values, liveing styles, mindsets are far apart.

it seems to me that the discontented communities of dalits, tribals , and muslims have made a common cause,to attack the hindus of middle class and upper classes.

they will not get anything out of this. the upper classes will be antagonised and isolate themselves .

people like the resident maulvi, rajesh the dalit from australia, and kumar the choir boy from bangalore can keep spouting hate. people like me dont give a damn. piss off .

let me say that i have the right to dislike , criticise anyone however much i like. i dont need anyones permission.

i dislike islam, and i will not deny this. why should i. i dont respect mohammed,and i have reasons for not doing so. no one should accuse me of bias against muslims. i admit it. many westerners do.lets be honest about it.

we have the right to choose friends and enemies,

most important we have a duty to be honest.

some people will hate me. they are welcome to do so. howeve no one can acuse me of being a hypocrite.

india will continue haveing serious problemsfor ever. gandhi was ve wrong in beleveing that all th various commmunities would live peacefully togather. neither ambedkar or jinnah agreed with him.

ambedkar wanted special rights for dalits. jinnah wanted a separate country. today mayawati is trying to build a state for dalits. muslims are trying for a second pakistan

hindu upper classes have a fight on their hands. the real super rich indians are moveing abroad. smart guys.

there is a great posibility that the cattleclass will take over india.

"many of whom are not educated enough to know/read the ideologies, history of Mao etc" KUMAR, That where the educated, manipulative ideologues comes in. Democracy may not be the perfect system but for a country like India with so much diversity, parliamentary system of democracy is the best form of Govt. A cursory glance around the region around India would highlight the plight of most other forms of Govt.

Arundhathi Roy siding with "violent Maoist" who suppress voice of dissent with a BULLET is unpardonable. Similar violent anti-national activities in the NE States like Mizoram, Nagaland etc subsided only when most of the people of these states were converted to Christianity. A similar ploy of the Church in the Central Indian Tribal area also can NOT be ruled out.

>> Democracy is freedom to do what is right/lawful/constitutional. Not freedom to do what is illegal.

How about preaching the same to naxals ? carrying / using AK 47s against police / civilians is also illegal. Beheading of public servants is also illegal. Rape & killing of those who oppose the naxals is also illegal.

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